I told you on Tuesday this was a strong possibility, and here it is again, looking like it will happen. Bowles, who previously interviewed for the head coaching positions in Denver (Josh McDaniels got it — oops) and Detroit (Jim Schwartz), interviewed for the Cowboys’ top coaching job on Wednesday afternoon.

But in similar fashion to the way he grabbed Garrett off the Dolphins’ staff in ‘07, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has used a head coaching interview to fortify his group of assistants.

They definitely need help on D in Big D, where the Wade Phillips-led defense slumped to second-worst in the league in scoring average (27.3 points per game) after his November firing as head coach. Phillips has since hooked on with the Texans, by the way, where the defense was nearly as bad (29th in scoring average).

Gotta love the NFL!

Bowles, 47, previously spent three years in Dallas coaching defensive backs. He was a Bill Parcells hire there as well. Bowles played eight seasons in the NFL with the Redskins and 49ers.

Thanks in part to Bowles, the Dolphins’ pass defense improved from 24th to eighth in 2010. He helped the Dolphins bring along two young free safeties in second-year man Chris Clemons and rookie Reshad Jones as well as two second-year starting cornerbacks in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith.

Unfortunately, Dolphins defenders — not just the DBs — dropped at least a combined 19 interceptions in 2011. (Smith led the way with six dropped INTs.) They actually managed to pick off just 11 passes, a total just three other teams failed to reach.

Once Bowles leaves, six members of Tony Sparano’s original coaching staff will have moved on or been fired. And that doesn’t even count offensive coordinator Dan Henning (expected to retire) or embattled quarterbacks coach David Lee, who became a public target of Brandon Marshall’s frustration this week.

The others who have left: offensive line coach Mike Maser (fired), defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni (fired), outside linebackers coach Jim Reid (to Virginia as DC), inside linebackers coach George Edwards (to Buffalo as DC with a brief stopover in Gainesville) and, of course, former special teams coach John Bonamego, who became the first known Dolphins assistant dumped during the season after the Week 4 debacle against the Patriots.

The worse thing to happen to Henne was Pennington’s injury in 2009. The problem was Sparano’s stupid rule that kept Pennington off the sidelines while he was injured. Henne did fine until Buffalo, but who was there on the sideline to calm Henne down and get him refocused? Not the coaches, who were more afraid to lose than they were eager to win. Not Pat White, the rookie. Not Tyler Thigpen, the almost rookie. Not Pennington, thanks to Sparano. And now Henne’s either screwed up in the head for life and will never effectively play QB again, or will need to be deprogrammed (NOT RE-programmmed, because that’s what you do with robots) but coaches who actually know what they’re doing with him. Please, God, don’t let that be New England.

Now it’s official, Sparano is done. He couldn’t come back now because no one would respect him and he would be considered a lame duck coach. They should’ve fired Ireland too though.

I don’t know how happy I am about a young 1st time NFL head coach taking over for Sparano. I know Harbaugh is great but he never was a HC in the NFL. It makes me a little nervous but then again his brother wasn’t either and he’s doing great.

Ireland in all probablty hasnt made one draft pick, yet. Parcells has made all picks to date, making sure Ireland simply watches. Micro-manager Parcells wont let anyone but himself make drats picks while he’s on the job. Well he left one week before the first game so its now Irelands job to lose. Ross knows who made the picks and thats why Ireland is still here. I dont understand Ross handling of Sparano. Fire the man or not. Dont let him tangle in the wind, Sparano doesnt deserve that. But he is tangling for the last yr on his contract worth about 3 mil. ? I think a lock out by the owners would be fitting end for this yr and yrs to come. Do u guys have a life without football ?

Fins 1st order of business should be to resign Tony McDaniel & Paul Soliai.

2nd: Try to get a 2nd rdr for Odrick. I doubt anyone would bite. But you never know. I have a feeling it will be one leg injury after another with him. Unloading him would be great & Fins could draft OL, WR, TE or S with that pick.

3rd: Shore up the OL! Hmmm how about bringing back Jake Grove for starters. Not sure what the deal was there. If your worried about injuries thats fine.. He would make a hell of a backup swingman @ Center & Guard. With Grove & the return of Garner you now would have quality depth on the OL at the very least.

4th: Hope Cam Newton is there @ #15. Go with Henne until he develops & if Henne improves that is just icing on the cake.

Simply saying it would be better to recoup something if possible. Broken leg in college. Broken leg in the NFL. Bad foot injury in the NFL. See a pattern? If it is facts you crave here is one. It is a fact that no DE in the history of the NFL has recored a sack or a tackle for a loss while on crutches.

Please. Just say NO to Vince Young! NO to Cam Newton! Talk about QB’s that can’t read a defense. Only thing these guys can do is run, run, run. These guys are just RB’s/WR’s that can throw a little. Go for a QB that can move in the pocket, extend the play and able to run IF necessary.

what the hell has ireland done to screw this team up? what dolphin gm has had more hits than him? what cause we missed on dez bryant? please! i wouldn’t want a player so fragile. ask me if my moms a prostitute, i’ll tell you no. but guess what? my dads not a pimp. very legitimate question if you ask me. i’ll take the last three drafts over the previous 10 anyday. i don’t understand all the haters gettin their panties in a wad over this guy getting a pass. tony and dan are the ones who screwed the pooch on this one. they need to go! give harbaugh a chance to do his thing and ireland will go all offense in this draft. he’s already did a fine job with the defense in the draft. now give him time to go offense. you people net thed to lighten up and put the blame where it belongs!

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
More

IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More